IDF surrounds Gaza City, demands evacuation. Christian clergy stay to aid vulnerable. US leaders urge peace, warn of civilian crisis. Hamas decries war crimes.
Newsroom (03/10/2025, Gaudium Press ) Israeli Minister of Defense Israel Katz announced on October 1 via a post on X at 8:07 a.m. ET that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had fully surrounded Gaza City, issuing a stark ultimatum to its residents. Katz warned that anyone wishing to leave southward must pass through IDF inspection checkpoints, stating, “This is the last opportunity for Gaza residents who wish to do so to move south and leave Hamas terrorists isolated in Gaza City itself, facing the IDF’s ongoing operations at full force. Those who remain in Gaza will be considered terrorists and terror supporters.” The statement, reported by the Jerusalem Post, has intensified fears for civilians, particularly Gaza’s Christian community, who face an impossible choice between fleeing or staying to protect their homes and vulnerable populations.
Christian Community’s Defiant Stand
Gaza City’s Christian clergy and nuns, including those at Saint Porphyrius Orthodox Church and Holy Family Catholic Church, declared on August 26 their resolve to remain in their compounds to care for those unable to flee. These include the elderly, sick, and others without resources to evacuate. The Jerusalem Post reported on October 2 that these religious leaders, including the Missionaries of Charity, have chosen to stay despite the escalating violence, prioritizing their pastoral duties over personal safety.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The Washington Post reported on October 2 that the IDF’s renewed warnings target hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza City who lack the financial means to seek shelter in southern Gaza. Shaimaa Abu Haseera, a mother in Gaza City, told the Post, “It seems whoever does not have the money has no right to escape,” highlighting the dire economic barriers to evacuation. The Haaretz newspaper noted on October 3 that the Israeli Defense Ministry’s unit for the region has pledged to allow humanitarian aid to enter from the north. However, aid agencies face significant challenges, as staff are fleeing the violence, and United Nations officials report difficulties securing Israeli permission for humanitarian operations.
Hamas condemned Katz’s remarks as evidence of “more war crimes against civilians,” according to the Washington Post. The group’s statement reflects growing fears that the IDF’s operations are disproportionately impacting non-combatants, exacerbating an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
Calls for Peace and Interfaith Dialogue
Amid the escalating conflict, Bishop A. Elias Zaidan, chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on International Justice and Peace, issued a statement on October 1 urging an end to the violence. Zaidan endorsed a U.S.-backed 20-point peace plan that emphasizes regional interconnectedness and includes an “interfaith dialogue process” to foster tolerance and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. Quoting Pope Leo XIV, Zaidan highlighted the Church’s commitment to “peace and dialogue in the service of building bridges of universal fraternity.” He called for global cooperation to seize this “opportunity for peace” and invoked the intercession of Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom.
The Haaretz editorial board, in an October 2 analysis, cautioned that the IDF’s strategy risks further alienating Gaza’s civilian population while failing to dismantle Hamas’s operational capacity. The outlet urged Israeli leaders to prioritize targeted operations over broad ultimatums that endanger non-combatants.
A Region on the Brink
As Gaza City braces for intensified IDF operations, the plight of its civilians—Christian and Muslim alike—remains precarious. The international community faces mounting pressure to address the humanitarian crisis and broker a ceasefire. With aid delivery faltering and civilian deaths rising, the urgency for a resolution grows. Bishop Zaidan’s call for prayer and dialogue echoes the sentiments of many who see peace as the only path forward in a region scarred by conflict.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Jpost and Haaretz
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